To the Excellent Experienced Nurses...

PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2010

Something tells me you must be a pretty cool newbie to begin with...=)

SlightlyMental_RN · Nov 30, 2010

I never had any problem with the whole "nurses eat their young" thing, either. All of the experienced nurses were very helpful when I was at a loss, and they gave me credit for my efforts. I think it helps if you don't enter into work with a know-it-all attitude, and you have the ability to laugh at yourself.

JessiekRN · Nov 30, 2010

I definitely agree..just from personal experience, I remember being so grateful to my senior nurses when I started out and even still now, over 2 years later, I don't know where I would be without them. That being said, I think I'm generally easy to get along with, show appreciation where it's due, am eager to learn, and am always willing to help others when my time and skills allow. I'm thinking of one particular nurse who came a few months ago whose attitude is very difficult to work with..when you try to (politely) educate her- because she could do with a lot of help!- you are met with complaining about how hard her shift was, a defensive attitude, and excuses. She leaves a lot of unfinished work behind but manages to swipe out 8pm on the dot every shift she works. I've heard her complain that "no one" is willing to help her, when in fact, I've seen many try to help but stop trying after being put off by her abrasiveness. I guess what I'm trying to say is it upsets me when I hear that "nurses eat their young". Maybe a few do, but for the most part from what I've seen, what you put into this job is (most of the time) what you get out of it. Just my thoughts.

LordErrorProne-RN · Nov 30, 2010

i dont know if its just head space error with me or something, but i find it incredibly difficult to understand how you ladies operate, like for the past 5 years i have tried to operate as a women but i just cant get it down pat. like ive had different instructors and different preceptors that "try" to help me by telling me what to do next, thats all well and fine but its just not how my i organize my day, i know someone will jump to the conclusion that well clearly you arent organizing your self right. ill give you an example, one day i was sitting and charting cause i had a fricken insane morning with 4 fully dependent pt's that needed to get either to xray or pt or whatever the case may b, so my clinical instructor walks up to me and says " you should go see why that bell is ringing" in my head im like i have my own work to do if i was sitting sucking on a lolipop watching cartoons then yea i would go answer the bell but i had 4 peoples charting to get done before the doctor's came.

another example is something that happens to me ALL the time, so im getting stuff to do a dressing, my preceptor walks in and says did u do blah blah, im like no but im clearly in the middle of getting my dressing done, but if you think giving out my meds an hour before they are due just cause i can is the best course of action then yea ok ill do it.

anywho to make things short, one nurse tells the next nurse that i dont prioritize and i end up looking like the disorganized fool im made to look like? do u see where im going with this?

JessiekRN · Nov 30, 2010

LordErrorProne.. Hi I just wanted to respond to your post and seriously I'm not trying to criticize you or be judgmental, just offer up my opinion, for whatever its worth. I don't know if you are a new nurse and still being precepted, and I may be incorrect but it sounds from your post as though that may be the case. Gender differences and all their implications aside, I don't think there really is EVER a case where ignoring a call bell for the sake of finishing paper work is truly justified, except maybe in the case of jotting down some vital signs or something else that will be quickly forgotten, or in the case of an emergency (code or what have you). That call bell- even if that patient has called 90 times in the last 20 minutes and you are pretty sure exactly why they are calling now- well this time may be different, they may be SOB, bleeding, falling, etc. Of course no one can answer every call bell right away all the time. But going with the assumption that you are still a newer nurse, I just wanted to offer that as food for thought. As for your second example, you didn't say in your post that your preceptor came in and demanded you give out your medications this very instant, as you carry all your dressing change supplies around. Perhaps she just wanted to see where you are at with your day, which is the expectation of any good preceptor. My advice to you is that you try not to take things so personally, and again, if you are new, don't be too quick to dismiss the advice of those who have been doing this for a while longer.

nyrn5125 · Nov 30, 2010

i dont know if its just head space error with me or something, but i find it incredibly difficult to understand how you ladies operate, like for the past 5 years i have tried to operate as a women but i just cant get it down pat. like ive had different instructors and different preceptors that "try" to help me by telling me what to do next, thats all well and fine but its just not how my i organize my day, i know someone will jump to the conclusion that well clearly you arent organizing your self right. ill give you an example, one day i was sitting and charting cause i had a fricken insane morning with 4 fully dependent pt's that needed to get either to xray or pt or whatever the case may b, so my clinical instructor walks up to me and says " you should go see why that bell is ringing" in my head im like i have my own work to do if i was sitting sucking on a lolipop watching cartoons then yea i would go answer the bell but i had 4 peoples charting to get done before the doctor's came.
another example is something that happens to me ALL the time, so im getting stuff to do a dressing, my preceptor walks in and says did u do blah blah, im like no but im clearly in the middle of getting my dressing done, but if you think giving out my meds an hour before they are due just cause i can is the best course of action then yea ok ill do it.
anywho to make things short, one nurse tells the next nurse that i dont prioritize and i end up looking like the disorganized fool im made to look like? do u see where im going with this?

That's all places you go. The RN will always be the most accessible, easy to interrupt,do 50 things at the same time and will get it done now person. I have had pt's projectile vomiting and I'm holding the bucket. A doctor will come in behind the curtain to tell me he needs the labs for his patient b/c he doesn't know how to look them up. Never can give out meds uninterrupted. Try giving am insulin on time and iv meds while 2 aides are asking for help with incontinent pt's. Or when families ref to leave and are present 24/7 and want to stare at how you wipe clean their dad's behind..yes it happened. Anyway that is what nurses endure and we choose to be here. You are one of many

mentalhealthRN · Nov 30, 2010

Glad to hear this......I do think that it may be the personality of the newbie as well as the particular staff. Glad that you found a great group of nurses that have been so great. However I do think there are still some nurses that are just nasty regardless of how the newbie is-- shame on them--as you have pointed out there is not need to be that way. Good luck to you and thanks for a happy experience story!

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2010

i dont know if its just head space error with me or something, but i find it incredibly difficult to understand how you ladies operate, like for the past 5 years i have tried to operate as a women but i just cant get it down pat. like ive had different instructors and different preceptors that "try" to help me by telling me what to do next, thats all well and fine but its just not how my i organize my day, i know someone will jump to the conclusion that well clearly you arent organizing your self right. ill give you an example, one day i was sitting and charting cause i had a fricken insane morning with 4 fully dependent pt's that needed to get either to xray or pt or whatever the case may b, so my clinical instructor walks up to me and says " you should go see why that bell is ringing" in my head im like i have my own work to do if i was sitting sucking on a lolipop watching cartoons then yea i would go answer the bell but i had 4 peoples charting to get done before the doctor's came.
another example is something that happens to me ALL the time, so im getting stuff to do a dressing, my preceptor walks in and says did u do blah blah, im like no but im clearly in the middle of getting my dressing done, but if you think giving out my meds an hour before they are due just cause i can is the best course of action then yea ok ill do it.
anywho to make things short, one nurse tells the next nurse that i dont prioritize and i end up looking like the disorganized fool im made to look like? do u see where im going with this?

No offense ........... I smell a troll............. :rolleyes:

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2010

I know that there are so many threads and comments on this board about older nurses "eating their young," but I wanted to let everyone know that as a nurse just several months into my career, I have had the exact opposite experience.
I am so blessed to work with caring, helpful, experienced nurses-the vast majority of them have really made me feel that no question is ever too silly or no favor asked is ever too bothersome. These women have welcomed me onto the unit, sympathized with me on rough days, reminded me that I'm human and that all I can do is my best, and sometimes swooped in to warn me about/keep me from making those potentially numerous and very dreaded newbie mistakes
Especially after a day where I called my first rapid response on a patient, I feel so grateful for these coworkers. So experienced nurses, please know that there is at least one newbie out there who is super-thankful for all of the support and knowledge you provide!
:heartbeat

Sounds like you are the kind of person to be around and the kind of personwho deserves to call themself A NURSE!

But Thank you for the kind words.........:redbeathe

RNJill · Nov 30, 2010

JoPACURN and Esme12, thank you so much for your sweet comments!